Apple TV+ renews Foundation for season 4

Thinus Ferreira

Apple TV+ has renewed the science fiction drama series Foundation based on Isaac Asimov's book series for a fourth season that will start production in early 2026.

The third season finale will become available on Apple TV+ on Friday 12 September.

"There is no series quite like Foundation and and we feel lucky and honoured to be carrying the torch forward as co-showrunners into season four," says Ian Goldberg and David Kob, co-showrunners, in a statement AppleTV+ issued on Thursday night.

"We look forward to continuing the epic, emotional, storytelling that defined the first three seasons of the show, and to be working alongside some of the most talented, passionate creative partners in the business."

Matt Cherniss, Apple TV+ head of programming, in the statement, says "It’s been fantastic to watch Foundation become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world".

"With each new season, the excitement around this trailblazing sci-fi epic just keeps building due to the bold storytelling and collective artistry of this extraordinarily talented cast and creative team. We're excited to keep exploring this universe together in season four".

Foundation stars Jared Harris, Lee Pace and Lou Llobell, along with Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena Kingwith. 

The new addition in Foundation's third season dealing with the Mule storyline and the end of the Cleonic dynasty, were Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur and Pilou Asbæk.

Foundation was originally produced for Apple TV+ by Skydance Television that has now folded into Paramount Television Studios.

Ian Goldberg and David Kob will executive produce Foundation season four with Bill Bost, Pace, Michael Satrazemis, Robyn Asimov and David S. Goyer.

Production on Foundation's fourth season will start in early 2026.

First teaser trailer: Season 2 will be Foundation's 'Second Crisis' on Apple TV+ from 14 July.

by Thinus Ferreira

The psychohistorian character of Hari Sheldon might be dead but actor Jared Harris is still very much alive in the upcoming second season of Foundation which will debut on Apple TV+ on 14 July and which just released its first teaser trailer.

The science fiction drama series based on the book series of Isaac Asimov will tackle the Foundation's "Second Crisis" during the second season, in the scientific outpost's growing battle with the waning Empire and its ruling emperor Cleon clones, portrayed by Lee Pace.

The second season, produced for Apple by Skydance Television and led by showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer, will have 10 episodes with the season that will start on 14 July globally, with a new episode released weekly on every Friday.

Although Hari Sheldon died during the first season, Jarred Harris will again appear as the creator of psychohistory through backflashes, as well as the version of him as an articial intelligence (AI) after hehad  uploaded his consciousness into the Foundation computer.

"More than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy in Foundation season two," says Apple TV+.

"As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself," reads the season's official logline.

"The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: War with Empire. The monumental adaptation of Foundation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity."

Also starring the returning cast of Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton and Terrence Mann, the second season will introduce new characters including Isabella Laughland (Brother Constant), Kulvinder Ghir (Poly Verisof), Ella-Rae Smith (Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion), Holt McCallany (Warden Jaegger Fount), Rachel House (Tellem Bond), Nimrat Kaur (Yanna Seldon), Ben Daniels (Bel Riose) and Dimitri Leonidas (Hober Mallow).

Apple TV+ drops first teaser about Isaac Asimov's sprawling Foundation sci-fi series.

by Thinus Ferreira

Although the series will only be released in 2021 Apple TV+ has surprised viewers by releasing a first teaser of the upcoming science-fiction drama Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov's iconic book series.

Although production of the epic series filmed in Ireland by Skydance Television as that country's largest TV series ever, was shut down in mid-March because of the growing global Covid-19 pandemic, the series with showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer has clearly done a lot of filming and post-production work already.

The 10-episode first season of Foundation is based on Isaac Asimov's seminal science fiction series about a mathematician in the far-flung future, when mankind has spread through the entire galaxy, predicting the fall of the Galactic Empire and setting up a way to limit the duration of the destruction to preserve humanity.

There are 6 books in the series with Foundation that was first published in 1951.

The official logline from Apple about Foundation is that "the series will revolve around the thousand year saga of the Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it".

Mathematician Hari Seldon invents psychohistory which can broadly "predict" human behaviour and behavioural patterns on a massive scale, and he constructs a plan to shorten the predicted new "dark age" of the Galactic Empire by setting up the "Foundation".

With this "predictability power" Hari, of course, becomes a threat to the galactic government that doesn't understand what he's trying to do, setting of sprawling interplanetary intrigue with a lot of surprising twists and characters who often are not who they initially appear to be.

In the teaser for the Apple Original, David S. Goyer gives a glimpse into the making of the epic saga, that stars Jared Harris as Hari Seldon; Lee Pace as Brother Day; Lou Llobell as Gaal; Leah Harvey as Salvor; Laura Birn as Demerzel; Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk; and Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn.

"People have been trying to make Foundation for over fifty years," says David S. Goyer.

"Foundation was an enormous influence for Star Wars. It was the greatest science fiction work of all time. The story is sprawling, it unfolds over the course of a thousand years. If ever there were a company that was hoping to better people's lives through technology, through connectivity it's Apple. And that's something very much that Asimov was hoping to do."

BREAKING. Apple gives a series order for a science fiction TV drama based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation books.

Apple has given a series order for a science fiction TV drama based on author Isaac Asimov's sprawling Foundation book series.

Apple gave a straight-to-series order for the long-gestating project that Skydance Television brought to Apple in April this year.

Apple gave Skydance a development deal earlier this year for a possible straight-to-series Foundation pick-up and will now proceed to make an entire first season.

David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman will be the executive producers and showrunners of Foundation, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross who will also be executive producers.

Skydance Television that is also responsible for the first season of Altered Carbon that became available on Netflix and Netflix South Africa in March, will produce a 10-episode first season of the as-yet-untitled Foundation series.

The official logline from Apple about Foundation is that "the series will revolve around the thousand year saga of the Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it".

The fascinating Foundation story is set far into mankind's future when humanity has spread out across the galaxy inhabiting millions of worlds (without ever finding extra-terrestrial life) spans across several millennia and dozens of characters.

Mathematician Hari Seldon invents psychohistory which can broadly "predict" human behaviour and behavioural patters on a massive scale, and he constructs a plan to shorten the predicted new "dark age" of the Galactic Empire by setting up the "Foundation".

The mesmerising story, filled with major twists and dramatic, unexpected turns, concludes with a few books detailing a highly adventurous journey of an intrepid group trying to find the origins of humanity, apparently a place called Earth.

Apple the latest to try and adapt Isaac Asimov's sprawling Foundation science fiction saga as a TV drama series.

The long-gestating TV development looking for a possible series pick-up of Isaac Asimov's sprawling science fiction saga, Foundation, has finally found a home Apple.

In 2014 HBO and Warner Bros. TV tried to work together to bring the groundbreaking and massive science fiction saga of Isaac Asimov's Foundation book series to television which would have been written and produced by Jonathan Nolan - but nothing came of it.

For years - just like with George R.R. Martin's sprawling fantasy Game of Thrones series, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (now to be made into an at least 5 season series by Amazon), and George Lucas' Star Wars as a possible TV series (now to be made a TV drama series by Disney), Asimov's Foundation was considered simply too big and complex in scope to be made into a TV series given budget and special effect constraints.

But no more. As premium broadcasters and streaming services are upping the ante on each other and splurging on mega TV projects in the medium's Peak TV era, all of those formerly "undoable" are now being chased and produced for the viewership, subscriber growth and revenue, prestige, and reams of press coverage they bring in.

Now Apple has grabbed a TV series adaptation of Foundation that will be produced by Skydance Television, with Apple that has given Skydance a development deal for a possible straight-to-series Foundation pick-up.

David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman will be the executive producers and showrunners of Foundation, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross who will also be executive producers.

Skydance Television is also responsible for the first season of Altered Carbon that became available on Netflix and Netflix South Africa last month.

The fascinating Foundation story is set far into mankind's future when humanity has spread out across the galaxy inhabiting millions of worlds (without ever finding extra-terrestrial life) spans across several millenia and dozens of characters.

Mathematician Hari Seldon invents psychohistory which can broadly "predict" human behaviour and behavioural patters on a massive scale, and he constructs a plan to shorten the predicted new "dark age" of the Galactic Empire by setting up the "Foundation".

The mesmerising story, filled with major twists and dramatic, unexpected turns, concludes with a few books detailing a highly adventurous journey of an intrepid group trying to find the origins of humanity, apparently a place called Earth. 

Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' books saga developed as a TV series for HBO by Jonathan Nolan - report.

In a fascinating and groundbreaking development HBO and Warner Bros. TV are apparently working together to bring the groundbreaking and massive science fiction saga of Isaac Asimov's Foundation book series to television which will be written and produced by Jonathan Nolan, The Wrap reports.

The sprawling, hugely influential, and highly acclaimed book series has never been made into a film or film series or TV show and spans as rich and dense a mythology and characters as The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones and could very likely be as successful as a long-running TV or film project - especially in the hands of HBO which would give it proper financial and creative support together with Warner Bros. capable TV studio.

The fascinating story set far into mankind's future when humanity has spread out across the galaxy inhabiting millions of worlds (without ever finding extra-terrestrial life) spans across several millenia and dozens of characters.

Mathematician Hari Seldon invents psychohistory which can broadly "predict" human behaviour and behavioural patters on a massive scale, and he constructs a plan to shorten the predicted new "dark age" of the Galactic Empire by setting up the "Foundation".

The mesmerising story, filled with major twists and dramatic, unexpected turns, concludes with a few books detailing a highly adventurous journey of an intrepid group trying to find the origins of humanity, apparently a place called Earth. 

According to The Wrap, the Foundation TV series has been in development for the last several months between HBO, Warner Bros. TV and Jonathan Nolan.